Super Mario 3D World takes the familiar style of its 3DS processor and builds on it in significant ways for the Nintendo mascot's Wii U debut.

Mario has a new power-up this time around in the form of a cat suit. While dressed as a cat, Mario can run faster on all fours and climb walls for a limited time to reach new areas.

When Mario can't climb anymore, he continues to cling to the wall using the cat suit's claws and slides down the cliff face, accompanied by one of the most adorable animations Nintendo has come up with yet.

The cat suit also offers new attacks, with a rolling move to hit enemies on the ground, and a pounce if you hold the attack button while in the air. The pounce can also double as a way to jump longer distances.

The hands-on E3 demo featured levels where players could take advantage of the cat suit's abilities, with more vertical layouts than in past Mario games.

There were still paths of floating platforms to climb to the top of the stage, but wearing the cat suit made it much easier, and opened new areas with coin caches and other hidden secrets.

Also new to the series are clear pipes, which automatically move players through a maze of tunnels, using the analogue stick to switch pipes at intersections. Clear pipes are also full of coins to collect and spiked enemies that players will have to think quickly to avoid, making them a welcomed new challenge.

While the cat suit and clear pipes are new to the series, Super Mario 3D World also brings co-operative play for up to four friends to the Wii U title.

One level in particular featured a unique use for co-operative play, with all four players jumping and stomping on a giant orange Yoshi-like creature to steer as it swam down a river past obstacles and coins.

Players can pick between Mario, Luigi, Toad and Peach in her long-overdue return to the series as a playable character. And unlike the New Super Mario Bros titles, each character has their own unique play style.

Mario is the all-around average character, while Luigi kicks in the air to extend his jump and slides on the ground before coming to a stop. Toad is the fastest runner but the weakest jumper, while Peach moves slowly but can float in the air using her dress.

The camera still follows the lead player, which traps other players in a bubble if they lag behind. However, players can now press a button to release themselves from bubbles instead of relying on a friend to do it for them.

The one feature that was not on display at E3 was the online multiplayer, which is a long-overdue first for the series.

Super Mario 3D World might not be the 3D Mario game fans were expecting, but with its blend of the familiar with new features like the cat suit, fans shouldn't be disappointed when it launches this December.